Early-stage
Australia VC: Meet the neighbors
Australia’s growing technology sector is set to benefit from long-term socioeconomic trends in Asia. Success will depend on both operational tenacity and a fundamental shift in expansion philosophy
Tech investors leverage changing Chinese consumption patterns
The disruption caused by technology in China's consumer and business services sectors - and the change this brings to traditional business models - is generating increased deal flow for private equity and venture capital investors.
Australian adtech start-up Unlockd secures $23m
Malaysian telecommunications conglomerate Axiata has led a $23 million investment in early-stage Australian advertising technology company Unlockd.
Naspers invests $5m in Philippines-based Coins
The venture capital division of South African media firm Naspers has invested $5 million in Coins, a US-founded blockchain and financial technology company operating in the Philippines.
China automobile services platform Lechebang gets $44m
Lechebang, a Chinese online automobile services platform focused on after-sale services, has completed a RMB300 million ($44 million) Series B round led by Grand Flight Investment.
SAIF, Accel in $30m round for India insurance start-up Acko
Acko General Insurance, an Indian online insurance broker, has raised $30 million from a group of investors including SAIF Partners and Accel Partners.
Japan’s Gree Ventures closes second fund at $67m
Gree Ventures, which was set up by Japanese mobile gaming company Gree, has closed its second early-stage VC fund at $67 million.
China biopharma player gets $25m Series B
CANbridge Life Science, a Beijing-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing Western drug candidates in China and North Asia, has raised a Series B round worth $25 million.
Lok leads $5.6m Series B for India's Ummeed
Lok Capital has led a $5.6 million Series B round for Indian affordable housing finance company Ummeed Housing Finance.
Jungle leads $5.3m Series A for India's PaySense
Jungle Ventures has led a $5.3 million Series A round for Indian online credit platform PaySense.
Japanese digital marketing player receives $28m
From Scratch, a Japanese digital marketing platform, has raised approximately JPY3.2 billion ($28.4 million) in funding from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Rakuten Ventures, as well as several existing investors.
Venture: Vietnam plus
Vietnam’s start-up ecosystem is gaining prominence as the diaspora community taps local tech talent to create businesses targeting global markets. Expect deal flow to increase substantially in coming years
Ping An leads $75m round for YY's gaming subsidiary Huya
China Ping An Insurance has led a $75 million Series A round for Huya, the live game broadcasting subsidiary of Chinese social networking platform YY.
IDG, DHFL invest $4m in India's EarlySalary
Indian financial technology platform EarlySalary has raised a $4 million funding round from IDG Ventures and Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL).
Qiming leads $17m round for China data storage software developer
Qiming Venture Partners has led a RMB120 million ($17 million) Series B round for XSKY Beijing Data Technology Corporation, a China-based data storage software services provider.
Maison leads round for Sino-Indonesia e-commerce site
China-focused GP Maison Capital has led a RMB150 million ($22 million) Series B round of funding for Wook, a cross-border B2B e-commerce platform that focuses on China and Indonesia markets.
Pagoda leads Series A for China smart sensing player
China-focused VC firm Pagoda Investment has led a RMB110 million ($16 million) Series A round of funding for Hesai, a Shanghai-based company that develops smart sensing technology solutions.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise to launch Singapore incubator
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will launch an incubator program in collaboration with Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) as part of plans to invest $140 million in the city state over the next five years.
China serviced apartment operator gets $43m
Anxin Apartment, a China-based serviced apartment operator, has raised RMB300 million ($43 million) in a Series B round spread across two tranches.
Sequoia, Banyan lead $51m round for China’s Xiaodian
Sequoia Capital China and Banyan Capital have led a RMB350 million ($51 million) Series B round of funding for Xiaodian, a Beijing-based power bank rental company.
China Creation leads $16m for credit evaluation specialist
China Creation Ventures, a VC firm recently launched by Wei Zhou, formerly a managing partner at KPCB China, has led a Series A round of funding worth RMB110 million ($16 million) for credit evaluation business IceKredit.
VCs back South Korean biopharma player ExoCoBio
South Korean biopharmaceutical developer ExoCoBio has raised an $11 million Series A round from investors including SBI Investment, Atinum Investment, ID Ventures, and Dt&Investment.
Singapore's NRF to invest $107m in AI
Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) has agreed to invest S$150 million ($107 million) over five years in a new multi-agency initiative aimed at fostering an artificial intelligence (AI) development ecosystem.
Southeast Asia VC: Common tastes
Venture capital investors increasingly view Southeast Asia as a single market as start-ups focus their attentions on a handful of large cities whose young populations have similar consumption habits